One in four adults has a diagnosable mental illness at some point in their lives. Chances are you or someone you know has a mental illness. However, only one third of those with a known mental illness actually seek help from a professional.
The truth about mental illness is that it is a disease. It is not a choice. It is sadness, pain, hopelessness and exhaustion. It is not the “beautiful” struggle that Tumblr blogs try to glorify. It is not a fascinating lifestyle. It is real life.
There is a lot of stigma surrounding mental health everywhere, but especially on college campuses. This creates an unhealthy cycle of neglect, lack of understanding and perpetuating stigma. When there is neglect, there is little or no understanding, leading to ignorance. When there is ignorance, there is stigma.
Asking for help is hard, especially when there is so much shame associated with having a mental illness; I was once the girl who tried to run away from her depression. And sometimes, you don’t even realize you need help. I didn't know that I needed treatment for my depression. My friends did, though.
This is where Active Mind’s Kognito Challenge comes into play.
Active Minds is a non-profit organization that fosters open conversations about mental health on college campuses with the hopes of educating the population and reducing the stigma surrounding treatment. Recently, Active Minds and Kognito collaborated to create At-Risk for College and University Students, an online simulation program that prepares both students and faculty to recognize signs of psychological distress and guide them to seek help. Through role-play conversations, participants learn to start conversations with at-risk students, how to respectfully discuss their feelings and how to connect them with the appropriate resources.
The Kognito Challenge helps raise awareness for mental health on college campuses, and prepares participants to serve as supporters for those with mental illnesses. It also ensures that at-risk students can get the appropriate treatment in a timely matter. As of September 29, 2016, only 20 students from Brandeis have completed the training. The Kognito Challenge is free to all users between September 6 and October 7. I cannot stress enough the importance of taking 30 minutes of your time to complete this training; sometimes, the hardest conversations are the most crucial to have. After all, you never know when you can save a life.
For more information regarding Active Minds and the Kognito Challenge, please check out Active Minds’ website and the Kognito Challenge’s homepage. If you are a Brandeis student, you can also reach out to Active Minds at Brandeis University.
